MLB picks: Reds vs. Nationals, Cardinals vs. Diamondbacks

We’ll keep things restricted to the “senior circuit” as we make a pair of Thursday MLB picks in games concerning National League clubs only.

First up is a seven-inning battle between the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals. Then we’ll look at a nine-inning clash between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Cincinnati Reds (21-25) at Washington Nationals (20-24), 7:05 p.m. ET

The Nationals looked poised to win their fourth game in a five-game span on Wednesday night, as they were up 3-0 over the Reds before rain forced a suspension of play in the fourth inning (that game will be continued at 2:05 p.m. ET). Washington could potentially hand the slumping Reds (2-6 last eight games) another loss in a seven-inning nighttime tilt this Thursday.

Stephen Strasburg has been dynamite when healthy in 2021, holding opponents to a scant .057 batting average over 11 1/3 shutout innings at home. He should be ready to deliver some length on the mound in his second start off the IL.

Sonny Gray responds for Cincinnati, trying to turn things around on the road. In three away games this year (14 innings), he owns a 5.14 ERA and .293 opponent batting average. Juan Soto and Trea Turner are a combined 7-for-16 (.438) all-time against Gray with a homer and five RBI.

The Nats have the bullpen edge too, as they’ve posted a 3.83 ERA over the last two weeks (11th) while the Reds have posted a 5.40 ERA (24th) in the same span.

MLB pick: Nationals -148

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St. Louis Cardinals (27-22) at Arizona Diamondbacks (18-32), 9:40 p.m. ET

The Cardinals look poised to hand the Diamondbacks their 11th straight loss at Chase Field on Thursday night.

Carlos Martinez will toe the rubber for the Redbirds, and he’s been stingy with opposing hitters in 2021, allowing a .218 opponent batting average. He’s also surrendered just three home runs through 47 1/3 innings.

Arizona is 28th in batting average this month (.219) and 29th in home runs hit (15), playing right into Martinez’s hands. Nick Ahmed and David Peralta are a combined 3-for-27 (.111) at the plate all-time against Martinez with 10 strikeouts and only one extra-base hit.

Once Martinez departs, the Cardinals’ fifth-ranked bullpen by opponent batting average will take over.

Matt Peacock counters for the D-backs in what’s only his third career start. There’s little to knock about his first two efforts (3.48 ERA), but the relief corps behind him is dreadful. No MLB team has allowed a higher opponent batting average (.283) than Arizona’s relivers in 2021.

MLB pick: Cardinals -103